AS Kate Middleton has every day of her pregnancy scrutinised, three new mums reveal why they wouldn't want to trade places with the Duchess.

BRITAIN is in the grip of royal baby fever with the confirmation that Prince William and Kate’s tot is due sometime in July.

After the trauma of her acute morning sickness and the devastation of the suicide of a nurse at the centre of a hoax call, the Duchess of Cambridge will now have every day of her pregnancy scrutinised by a worldwide audience.

But what about the other women expecting in July?

We meet the Scots women due to give birth at the same time as Kate, 31. They might share the excitement and nerves of the royal mum-to-be, but that is where the similarities end.

There are no aides to carry their bags to hospital appointments, suites in swanky London hospitals or personal physicians, but they wouldn’t swap places with the most photographed woman in the world.

MARIA

MARIA HIGGINS, 25, lives in Glasgow with partner Ross Anderson, 24, and baby son Adam, nine months. She’s 12-weeks pregnant and her baby is due at the end of July.

She said: “I’ve not had my scan yet so I don’t have a definite date, but I’ve worked out I’m due at the end of July or start of August.

“I found out I was pregnant two days after Kate announced she was pregnant, and I thought, ‘Wow, we’re going to have our babies at the same time’. Except we won’t be splashed all over the newspapers like their baby will be.”

The active birth teacher, who works for Lazy Daisy Scotland, says she feels sorry for Kate as she will be under so much pressure throughout her pregnancy.

Alasdair MacLeod/Daily Record

Maria and Ross are expecting a sibling for Adam in July

She said: “It was a shame for her being so sick and having to announce her pregnancy, and then having to face a backlash about it. Poor Kate’s had to deal with it all.”

Maria says she’s going to find out the sex of her baby, which Kate is unlikely to do.

She said: “We found out last time we were having a girl, then out popped a boy. All I had were tiny pink clothes. So this time I think we’ll have about five gender scans to make sure we know for sure.”

Maria’s just moved into a two-bedroom flat in Glasgow’s east end and says she’ll struggle to fit her growing family in their house.

She joked: “It’s quite a contrast to Kate living in a palace. We have very different lives, but it would be lovely for our babies to share a birthday.

“The down side is they will steal our limelight, but hopefully we will get a public holiday on our baby’s birthday out of it.”

ZARA

ZARA MALLEY-SMITH, 32, is due to have her baby on July 14.

She’s 14-weeks pregnant – almost exactly the same stage as Kate is thought to be.

Mum-of-one Zara, from Bridge of Weir, says her life has been parallel to Kate’s and would love her baby to share the royal baby’s birthday.

Phil Dye/Daily Record

Zara Malley-Smith and daughter Piper are looking forward to the new arrival

She said: “Kristian and I got married just two weeks after Kate and William. And my daughter Piper’s fourth birthday was on their wedding day.

“When it was announced Kate was pregnant, we just looked at each other and laughed and said ‘she’s done it again, she’s beaten us to it’.

“We had found out we were pregnant but hadn’t told anyone. I think Kate is probably due almost exactly the same time as me.”

Now, after planning her wedding while Kate did hers, Zara’s debating over baby names and shopping for prams – just like th Countess of Strathearn.

She said: “It was exciting in the run up to our wedding as there was so much enthusiasm about the royal wedding. I was worried our dresses would be similar, but the only similarity was they were both lace.

“When it comes to maternity style I won’t be copying Kate. I live in my sports gear as I’m a personal trainer.

“She will be glam all the time, but it would be nice to see a pap shot of her in joggies to keep it real.”

Zara says she thinks the Countess is a fantastic role model. “I think she’s so down to earth and the way they work their marriage and relationship is admirable.

“I hope she gets a chance to be a good-old regular mum.”

One thing is certain, the births will be very different, with Zara opting for a home delivery.

She said: “My daughter was two days early, so I’m expecting this one to arrive mid-July.

“It would be nice to share the same birthday. People used to ask me if I was named after the Princess Royal’s daughter, so it would be another talking point.

“She joked: “Our lives have been pretty parallel.

“If only I had a prince too like her.”

JENNIFER

Bank worker Jennifer Bell, 30, is due her first baby on July 3, and is delighted to be sharing her pregnancy with Kate.

The mum-to-be, who lives in Glasgow with husband Dominic, 28, said: “It’s all very exciting and it’s nice to be expecting our first baby around the same time as Kate.

Alasdair MacLeod/Daily Record

Jennifer will be a mother for the first time

“But I felt sorry for her having to announce her pregnancy because you don’t want to until you’ve had your 12-week scan.”

Buckingham Palace have only revealed that the royal baby is due in July – and there is much speculation as to when exactly Kate will give birth.

There has also been a lot of excitement over the possibility of the Royal baby sharing Princess Diana’s birthday, which is on July 1.

Jennifer said: “Well, we’re due on the 3rd so our baby might be born on the same day as Kate’s.

“It would be great as in the future they might announce that day as a holiday, and every year we could have a royal party for our baby.”

Jennifer, who is now 16-weeks pregnant, said she’s looking forward to watching what maternity style Kate wears during her pregnancy.

She said: “I think it’s the best time to be pregnant as it’s inevitable designers will jump on the bandwagon and design lots of maternity collections.

“I’m sure Kate will look fabulous – she’s so slim and beautiful.”

Jennifer says she doesn’t expect her introduction to motherhood will be anything like Kate’s. There will be no household staff to help her out and she will need to go back to work after maternity leave.

And while Kate will no doubt give birth at a private hospital, Jennifer’s delivery is due to take place at the Southern General in Glasgow.

She said: “I’m hoping to take a year off work and enjoy spending time with my baby and getting to grips with motherhood.

“Poor Kate will be under so much media pressure to lose the baby weight, and I’m sure she will either be told off for losing the weight too quickly or questioned if she doesn’t.

“Luckily, I won’t have anybody watching me.”

She added: “I’d love to be compared to Kate as she’s stunning, but sadly I’ve not had many comparisons.